Police News

* A city woman accused of illegally obtaining more than $14,000 in welfare benefits was arrested Wednesday.

Heather Taylor, 29, was charged with first-degree and second-degree larceny by defrauding a public community.

She was arrested on two outstanding warrants issued by the welfare fraud division of the chief state's attorney's office in Rocky Hill. State investigators began checking Taylor's benefits after receiving a complaint from the state Department of Social Services.

Taylor is accused of frauduently obtaining more than $14,300 in benefits between January 1996 and September 1998. State officials said she was not entitled to benefits at that time because she was working and earning wages. She also failed to notify the state of a change in her marital status, as required, officials said.

First-degree larceny is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $15,000 fine. Second-degree larceny is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

Taylor was released Wednesday on a written promise to appear in New Haven Superior Court on May 14.